Naila Rahaman tops Grade Six with perfect score
With a perfect score of 529 marks, Naila Rahaman, of the Westfield Preparatory School in Kingston, Georgetown, is this year’s top performer at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
Rahaman was revealed as this year’s top student by Minister of Education Nicolette Henry during the official announcement of this year’s NGSA results in the auditorium of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) yesterday.
Other high-scoring students emerged from the New Guyana School, Success Elementary, the New Diamond/Grove Primary, North Georgetown Primary, Leonora Primary, Peter’s Hall Primary, Academy of Excellence, Green Acres Primary, One Mile Primary, the Dharmic Rama Krishna and the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary.
The top performers told the media that they sacrificed many extra-curricular activities and dedicated most of their nights and early mornings towards studying.
Naila Rahaman - After giving up most of her favourite things while preparing for the NGSA, Rahaman is ready for a break, which is a promised vacation in the United States.
The 11-year-old told Stabroek News yesterday that when September comes, she will be ready to work hard towards her goal of being either the “next J.K Rowling” or President of Guyana, but for now she just wants to rest. “I’m thinking to be an author. Maybe the next J.K. Rowling. But if that doesn’t work out, I’ll be the President of Guyana and make my grade six teacher, Ms Aretha, Minister of Education,” she said.
Arthur Roberts - Roberts, of the New Guyana School, secured the second highest score with 525 marks. The elated boy said that he plans to continue being a high achiever as he works towards becoming a paediatrician. Roberts added that he was motivated by the saying “children are the future of tomorrow and if you can provide proper health care for sick children their
future would be guaranteed.”
“I didn’t expect to do so well. I expected to land a place at Queen’s College but not at this height in the list of top ten,” Roberts said of his success. He thanked his parents for their support and teacher Violet Carrington, whom he said “really made learning fun. She always shares jokes in class and the way she explains give you more than you needed for Common Entrance .... ” Roberts urged future NGSA students to give it their best and use every opportunity to learn as much as they can.
Kaydee Ali - Placing third overall with 524 marks is Ali. “I am very ecstatic and proud of myself. I wanted to be in the top ten and do well but placing third in the country—I wasn’t expecting this,” she said.
The Success Elementary student, who is an aspiring novelist, said she was excited to begin the new school term and form new friendships. Ali credited her success to God, her parents, who she said were always available to answer any question she had, and her teachers as well as all the other persons who kept believing in and motivating her.
Esha Lakeram - Lakeram, of New Diamond/Grove Primary, who earned 523 marks, told Stabroek News that while she worked hard, she made sure she did not give up on having fun. “I would advise others to make sure to find time to relax during the process, don’t allow yourself to be stressed. Learn but have fun too,” she said.
Lakeram, who was surprised to have earned the fourth highest score at the NGSA, was happy that she has been able to make her parents feel good about the efforts they have put into making sure she got to school. She also expressed gratitude to her teacher, Ms Robbins, who has worked with her class for two years. Although she has never really participated in sports, she said she hopes to be a figure skater someday.
Cianna Barkoye - Sharing the fourth position, Barkoye, of North Georgetown Primary, told this newspaper that she studied hard and had to give up activities she enjoyed in preparation for the NGSA. She was overjoyed upon learning that her hard work paid off.
Barkoye is convinced that she was able to succeed because of the support she received from her parents and teachers, especially her lessons teachers Ms Allison and Ms Parks, of St. Gabriel Primary. She herself aspires to be teacher. Zyla Braithwaite - Braithwaite, of Success Elementary, was happy to learn of her success and is now prepared to “relax because I have earned a break from all the studying and late nights.”
Braithwaite, who also attained 523 marks, said, “I am feeling happy and excited… I aimed to do well but never did I dream to be among the top ten of the country.”
She explained that she sacrificed her weekends and time spent with her electronic gadgets. She also noted that she studied into the nights and would wake up early in the morning to continue studying. “I must thank God, my parents and the rest of the family who kept encouraging me,” she said.
Krystal Duncan - “I feel very elated [at] what I have accomplished. I was aiming for this and I feel great knowing my hard work has paid off,” were the words of Duncan, a student of the New Guyana School.
Duncan said she was excited to attend secondary school and looks forward to focusing her attention on the “science subjects and be in the labs,” as she aspires to become a scientist. She, too, credited her achievement to God, her parents, and her Grade Six teacher, who pushed her to recognise her potential.
Darren Ramphal - Ramphal, of the Leonora Primary School, who is tied in 8th position with three others who like him gained 522 marks, spoke about the numerous hours of studying he put in to earn a top spot. “I studied very hard, sometimes late in the night and early in the morning. I spent about 30 minutes on each subject,” he said.